Elevator structure



A. F. MEYER.

LEVATOR STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED Dac. I9. 1919.

1,395,985. l Patented Nov. 1,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. F. MEYER. ELEVATOR. STRUCTURE.

. APPLICATION FILED- DEC. 1'9, 1919.

1,395,985. Patented Nov. 1, 1921,

i 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. F. MEYER.

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. 1919.

1,395,985. PatentedNov. 1,1921.

` 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. I z 7K I 7` l If ZH f/we/Nr:

. the way of the "UNITED STATES ALFRED F. MEYER, OF MORTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MO-RTON CORPORATION, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

MORTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Appiivcation med December i9, 1919. serial No. 346,058.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED F. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morton, in the county of Tazewell` and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator vStructures; andy I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and` use the same.

This invention has reference to elevators, particularly of the type employed in han dling grain in cribs and granaries. l

The inventionhas to do with a stationary type ofl so-called vertical elevator wherein two legs are used for the up and down stretches or runs of the elevating chains, the same being spaced each side of a driveway, and including a horizontal portion used as a dump portion acting as a conveyer for receiving grain fro-m a wagon.

My main object is the provision of an elevator and a cross conveyer of dump portion so constructed throughout as to require no sprocket wheels, or wheels of any -kind in fact, except thosefor driving purposes placed remotely from and outside the con veyer, to the end that friction mayI be reduced to a low point, and that there will be no wheels or parts to cause trouble or-'lie in grain, especially ear corn, being handled.

A further object is to provide an elevaf tor of the spaced-leg type, including a conveyer portion, the whole constituting a unitary structure having a guideway extending therethrough for a roller chain provided with buckets or flights.

Another important object is the construction of an elevator of the spaced leg type in which the conveyer-portion therefor is devoid of wheelsof any kind and constructed whereby it can be placed in a very shallow depression in'the floor as distinguished by the usual types which require a considerable depth in the ground because of the use of wheels in their make-up.

Another object is the provision` of adjustable hopperboards for a conveyer by which the material to be handled,l while dumped in a body or in one bulk upon the conveyer, can be controlled and permitted to feed to the drag chain as fast or as slowly as desired.` f

Still another object of my invention is Vthat of providing an elevator-leg of pivotally connected parts so constructed that such parts may be adjusted to anyk angle found necessary to lie in and t the roof angle of a crib or other building.

With these and other objects in view the invention pertains also to certain details of construction to be pointed out herein and in the claims, it being understoodthat the in-v vention is susceptible of minor changes without departing from the spirit and intent of such invention, and as falling within the scope of the said claims.

In the appended drawings forming part o-f this application- Y Figure l is an elevation of a building showing my improved elevator therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of a building showing the elevator in horizontal section. l

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of part of the conveyer portion of my elevator greatly enlarged from that shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 4L is a transverse section of the conveyer portion shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe upper portion of my improved elevator produced on a much larger scale than in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of part of what is shown in Fig. 5, on a much larger scale, and

y Fig. 8 shows in perspective part of what appears in Figs. 5 and 7.

Elevators of the spaced leg type, or those leaving a drive-way space between them, and including a conveyer-portion or dump, are commonly furnished with sets of wheels for carrying the drive chain and for driving purposes. But by reason of the required diameter of such wheels and the necessary space toaocommodate them the said conveyer-portion is required to be deeply set into the ground below the driveway floor. This depth is often as much as 36 inches or more and any trouble developing therein is diiiicult to reach `because of the depth, and

the inaccessibility of the narrow framing comprised in the structure. Not alone is this a disadvantage, but the matter of eX- pense of installation'must also be taken into account. v Aga-in, the greater depth requires longer chains which means increased friction, additional difficulties with regard to chance breakage, and greater expense for the materials required. Y

It is my purpose to .provide a structure,

therefore, wherein the lowest portion of the conveyer-portion will 'not lie more VthanV twelve or thirteen inches below the floor level and thus, with a given height of build# ing, the elevating chain maybe greatlyv reduced in length, while the parts of the structure may be readily reached from the drive-way.. In addition, friction may be reduced to' a minimum by providing a guidelway through which a chain provided with friction rollers'can readily move.'

A indicates a' buildingin which the ele#V vator, y'whose legs are designated by B, B, is installed. These legs are widelyspaced,

leaving a'driveway C between them, receiving bins for the materials to be elevated of pivotal connection, buckets N being sup-y ported between opposite Ifchains, as most clearly shownin Fig. lt.

In 'order to accommodate the chains, the described parts of the elevator are provided with guide-waysv throughout, there being such a guide-way G in each as yshown in Figs.-2 and 4. v j f v f The conveyer-portion' I-I Vmaybe a `casting" or it may be made of sheet metal or wood if l desired, butin any event the guideways are such as to receive the chain and rollers into them butV closed, as inthe figure last named,

.in order to prevent loss of grain through said guide-ways and also to prevent materials working through them from the outside into the drag space for thebu'ckets.

Upon the upturned ends of the conveyerportion are mounted theV described vertical legs BB whoseguideways'are in register with those of-said portion,

Between the legs the upper side of the saidv conveyer-portion is open, while downwardly and inwardly slanting boards P are placed therein asshown, constituting a shalf .low hopper to receive the material 'to be elevated. Mounted upon each of the boards P is a board Q adjustable laterally and secured by suitable means such as Vbolts B, for example, byiwhich the amount of material let into the conveyer maybe governed structure to adjust the elevator parts of any Y the 'particular Y j elevator taken from stockto job to be fitted. Y' y Y. Y .Y

That is to say, B2V BS- andl B4 represent the upper portions or head portion of the ele-V vator, of-which Bsis a conveyer portion, theV said portions being pivotally related. The structure for vthis purpose is best shown in Figs. 7jandj8', and while .such structure is shown as a connection'between B and-1B2 it applies to all of the parts mentionedfr S and I are two arms pivotallyV connected atone of their ends at Il, being secured to the portions VB- and B2 in any suitableL manner.V VV are two arc-shaped metaltrough portions secured to B21 and spaced fromjone anothery and fianged at l, Fig. 8, to provide the proper guide for the` chain K and its rollersA i WW indicatecompanion trough portion secured upon the leg B to enter theportions V,*Fig. 7, andphaving the flanges 2 for the purpose -mentioned The curves of these portions V andVV are described from the pivot point VV so that asthe portion B2 is moved upon its pivotto suit the roof angle the said portions VW will accommodate themselves, maintaining the guide-ways at all "times fory free workingof the chains.

the leg B, andB3 is lnecessarily adjustable upon B2 and B4. Y

B3 is Vof two telescoping portionsV so vthat one may slip over the otherto'either increase or decrease the distance between B2 and B1 according tothe anglesY taken by the latter. Naturally the adjustment to accommodate thereof angles will shorten or lengthen the distance for the chain travehwhich calls for the Vchange in chain length. When adjustments are made the whole structure may be secured in any desired manner, such as by supporting the' parts from the' roof for eX- ample. l rIIhe under 'side of the middle portion B3 is open so that, the material elevated can be' discharged from the buckets into the spout 3 suspended therebeneath.. l Any desired method of driving the chains K may be employed.4 -As oneof the ways, I show in'Fig.A 5^a pair of-sprocket vwheels 56, carried on shafts 7 lEach ofthe latter lies at the angle created between the portions B2 B4V and the middle portion B3. The sides 1075 The portion B4 has vthe same relationV to likewise of these portions are recessed at 8 to let the wheels into ythem for engaging the chains, see Fig.`7, said wheels being closed disks to prevent the grain 'falling from the inclosure, the slight kopening for clearance of the sprocket teeth being of no particular moment. l

vOn one of the shafts is asprocket wheel 9 over which is trained a drive chain 10 eX- tending down to anyl source of power, not shown.l It desired, said shafts '7 may each carry a sprocket 11 to receive a chain 1 2 whereby the power transmitted by the chain 10.1nay be imparted tothe sprockets 6 as well. 1

Theadjustabilityof the parts is obviously of great convenience in `an elevator of thisl type, being likewise adaptable to other forms vor those having but a. single leg through which both the ascending and descending vstretches Nof chain move.

The pivotallyconnected varms S and T permit the parts to be adjusted readily to any angle within the limits or the portions V, W, any given outfit being readily set up for use :without extended fitting of parts or the expense attending the furnishing of the same. Y

In constructing the elevator throughout, so. as to'use the roller chain traveling in guide-ways, the whole structure is simplified and. is or less cost than one requiring sprocket wheel or wheels torcarrying the elevating element, the chain K, but above all there are thus no parts to present a constant source of annoyance, and the conveyerportion can'be placed in a very shallow space, as pointed out, where it can be reached easily and quickly.

"Iclaim: l( An elevator structure ot lthe class described, including inits construction a single conveyer-portion comprising` a trough open at its top, anda leg'erected at each end of and connected yinto the said portion, said legs .beingspaced to leave a drivewayy space bgetween them, the saidconveyer-portion and the legs including a continuous guide-way at each side, an elevating element within the guideways, and rollers arranged totravel in the guideways, supporting the element, the ,conveyer-portion;being unobstructed by other internalmechanism.

2.*n elevator structure of theclass described including in its construction a single conveyer-portion comprising a trough open at its top, and a leg erected at each end of and connected withv the same, leaving a driveway space between said legs above said conveyer-portion, there beinga guide-way in and extending along each side of the conveyer-portion and continuing in each side 'of each leg, and an elevating element supported. wliollygwitliin,v arranged tok travel along thev guide-way, vand rollers supporting to leave a driveway space between them, and r having a conveyer-portion open at its top disposed beneath said driveway space connected with and rounded into such legs, a guideway in opposite Vwalls of the legs and the conveyer-portion, and a conveying element in they structure including a series ot rollers, adapted to travel within said guideways, said; conveyer-portion being unobstructed by other internal mechanism.

il. In combination anxelevating structure including a pair of upstanding legs arranged to leave a driveway space between them and having a conveyer-portion open at its top beneath said driveway space, said conveyerportion and said legs having a continuous groove in opposite walls thereof, and a chain including Aelevating vdevices arranged to travel throughout the described parts includ# ing rollers adapted to travel within said grooves, said conveyer-portion being devoid or other internal mechanism.'k

5. In combination, a pairof elevator'legs spaced from one another to leave a driveway space'between them, a eonveyer-portion open at its top beneath said driveway space but otherwise closed, the same being curved into and connected with the said legs, and devoid of internal mechanism, said 'legs and conveyer portion'having a continuous groove in opposite walls thereof, a conveyer element arranged to travel throughout the described parts including elevating devices substan tially lillingthe cross-sectional space within the conveyer, rollers carrying said chain arranged to travel within the guideways, and a power drive engaging the chain. f `6. An velevator structure including a pair of legsspaced to leave a driveway space between them,`an open-top conveyer-portion beneath `the driveway space connected into the llegs,`said`legs and said portion having a continuous `guioleway 'in opposite walls, an elevatingchain adapted to travel within the guideways including elevating. devices thereon, 'a member overhanging the receiving space of the conveyer-portion lying in closeproximity to the path of travel ot' the elevating devices and adjustable to constrict the opening of said conveyer.

7.. An elevator structure including apair of legs spaced to leave a driveway space between them, an open'-top conveyer-portion beneath the driveway space connected into the legs, said legs and said portion having a lcontinuous guideway in opposite walls, an elevating chain adapted to travel within the guideways including elevating devices thereon, a. pairof members overhanging the receiving Vspace ofv the conveyer lying in closeproximity to the'pathk of travel of the the guideway including elevating devicesv thereon, a pair of members overhanging the receiving space of the conveyer lying 1n close'proximity to the path of travel of thev elevating devices, the same being adjustable in the direction of one another for constrictlng the opening of said conveyer.

9. 'In combination, a building including a drive-way and a bin at each side of the same,

f v an elevator' includinga leg erected each side of said drive-way, and a head, a conveyer* portion lying beneath the floor oi the driveway, open at its top, connecting the legs, there being a continuous guide-way` extending throughout the structure at opposite sides thereof, the said structure being devoid of internal mechanism, and an lendless elevating'element including friction rollers disposed-in the guide-ways, and an external power drive engaging the said element.

V10'. An elevator including in its construction a hollow leg portion, a support, a hollow. portion pivotally mounted on the sup port adapted tohave afposition at-an angle to the leg portion, the pivot of the second namedv portion lying at the point of crossing ot two lines each extending from and lying perpendicularly to the axis of the bore of one of the portions, each said portion having a tubular arc shaped extension adapted to telescope 4one another.

.11. An elevator including in its construc-r low portion pivotally mounted on the support adapted to have a position at an angle to the leg portion, kboth portions having a.

guideway in Veach of two walls thereof, the pivot of the second named portion lying at the point of crossingv of two lines each extending from and lying perpendicularly to the axis of the bore of one of the portions, each said portion having a tubular arc shaped extension adapted to telescope one another, each extension having a guideway in opposite walls corresponding in position to those of the described portions.

12. An elevator including in its construction a pair of spaced'legs', a portion pivoted to ythe upper end of' each, and a conveyer portionfconnected to and lying between the said. portions.

V13. An elevator including in its constructiona. pair of spaced legs, a portion pivoted to thel upper end of each, and a conveyer portion disposed: between and'connec'ted to both the said pivoted'portions, and aconveyer-chain extending through the legs, each o the saidr portions, and said c onveyer portion.

14. An elevator including in its construction a .pair of spaced legs, a Vportion pivoted to theupper end oi' each, and a conveyerportion disposed between. and connected to both ythe said pivoted portions, and a con.- veyer-chain extending through the legs, each of .the said pivoted portions. and said con;

veyer-portion, the latter being open at its lower side. Y

15. .An elevatorv including in itsl construction a pair of spaced legs, a portion pivoted to the upper end oi each, and telescoping sections disposed betweenand pivoted each to one of the portions.

' 16. An elevator including yin its'construc of spaced legs, eachhaving a part surmountving it, each of the latter extending in the di-Y rection of the other substantially theform' of' an A,the legs andthe describedFparts, each including a guideway at opposite sides, and a chain adapted Vto travel inthe guideways.

18. An elevator structure including a pair 17. An elevator structure including'a` pair of spaced legs each having a part surmount- 'i ingr it, each of the latter extending in the direction of the other substantially-the form of an A, the legs and the described parts, each including` a guideway at opposite sides a chain adapted to travel in the and means to drive the chain.

n guideways,

19. An elevator structure including a pairy of spaced legs, ali-:arched head-portion havingits extremitiesconnected with each leg forming a conveying portion from one leg toward the other, and achain adapted to travel through the described structure.

20. An elevator structure including. a pair prising pivotally related vtelerscoping parts having substantially the form of an A', its Y ends connecting with said legs, said head portion adaptedV to be changed in form to adapt it to various 4roof angles of al building in which it may bev installed.. 'i

21. An elevator including in its construction a pair of spaced legs,a pairfof angledY portions inclined toward one-another,` each surmounting one of the legs, a substantially horizontal conveyer/portion connecting the l Y portions, a drag-chain adapted totravel through the legs, and the several portions,

anda drive wheel engaging the -chain at each 115 of spaced legs, an arched head-portion com-4` end of the said conveyer portion at the juncrunway, a chain adapted to travel through 10 tion thereof with said angled portions. the described structure, and means for driv- 22. An elevator structure comprising a ing the chain.

pair of legs spaced to leave a driveway space In testimony whereof I aiX my signature between them, a conveyer portion beneath the in presence of two witnesses.

driveway space connecting the legs, an ALFRED F. MEYER.

arched head-portion having its extremities Witnesses: connected with each leg forming with the J. B. WOLFENBARGER, leg and the conveyer-portion a continuous L. THURLOW. 

